This is my first post, I didnt see an intro section or anything so figured id just start posting. I have a m96 Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55 that i got a while ago for almost nothing in a trade. I sprayed the stock added a simple scope and a few other things and love it. Ive been shooting just factory ammo usually 140gr but some 132 and 130 depending on what i find. Im getting into reloading and have been reading that most of the m96 rifles were made to use the military loads which were like 170gr. I know Hornady has a 160gr bullet, but im worried about what pressures are safe in my rifle. Im not trying to push the envelope or anything with loads, i just want good solid loads for deer or elk.

Early ammunition was loaded with a 10.1 gram (156 grain) long round-nosed bullet (B-projectile) with a muzzle velocity of 700 m/s (2300 ft/s), while later rounds (from 1941 onwards) used a 9.1 gram (140 grain) spitzer bullet (D-projectile) with a muzzle velocity of 800 m/s (2625 ft/s).

160 gr is close enough to 156 that loads producing 2300 fps should be okay for the 96 if headspace is good and bore condition good.
You should check the length of the 160gr bullet first. If it intrudes into powder space when loaded to the standard COAL pressures may be elevated.

I agree with rainbow, 170 is incredibly heavy for 6.5, the bullet would be dang near 2 inches long. most that I see are in the 140-150 range. consider that one of the most popular cartridges out there for deer hunting is the 243 winchester and that the heaviest projectile out there is a 107 grain, 140 is sounding pretty good. also consider that in 6.5 swede most reloading manuals that I have seen have that 140 grain bullet traveling at almost the same speed as the 107 grain 243...

it doesn't matter.... just about anything you load up will kill a deer as long as it's a soft point, polymer tip or just about anything bu steel core, tracer or FMJ.

for elk, 6.5 swede is a bit on the small side and is considered marginal, if not underpowered, either way you need some serious, honest to goodness skills to be able to take an elk with a 6.5 swede, sometimes shooting MOA from sandbags at paper doesn't cut it...

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ok thanks guys. I think i will give the 160gr hornady bullets a try if i can find them. I took the rifle to a local smith when i first got it and had it checked over and they said everything was good. Im not sure if there is anything more i could check myself to be sure

i cant find any 4064, i ordered some h414 so ill try that and see how that goes. Its definitely not a good time to be getting into reloading with everything so hard to find and so expensive when you do find it.

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